All of us seem to have one thing in common - we like to acquire things that appeal to us and set them aside for our very own. Sometimes they are very useful objects, such as old boxes, clothes, or the like. Sometimes they are things too good for daily use - things we keep just to enjoy, such as jewelry, a nice box, a fine sword, a beautiful picture. Nearly everyone has this yearning to collect, and certainly there are few hobbies that offer such an inducement to imagination and individuality. It is one activity in which you can select something that is entirely new, or, if you wish, join one of the great armies of collectors of stamps or coins.

What shall you collect? That, of course, is up to you and depends upon what you like. Millions of people prefer stamps and coins. Stamp and coin collections are an art in themselves, and it would take a book to describe them properly. There are literally thousands of other things that can be collected, however, with little or no expense, yet carrying a great load of satisfaction and education.

Many people do not realize that collecting is a real art if it is done properly. One who simply accumulates odds and ends and stows them away in a corner is not a collector in the true sense of the word. Crows and magpies do just such a thing quite regularly but would hardly be classified as collectors.

Many Persons Are Fascinated by Trains. Some Collect Trains; Others Make a Hobby of Pictures of Trains or of Railroad Timetables and Maps.

In order to enjoy a collecting hobby to the fullest extent, it is necessary to go about it with a purpose. Strange as it may seem, the art of collecting consists to a great extent of knowing what not to collect. A true collector will not add an item to his inventory unless it has something in the way of romance or meaning to bring with it. This means, of course, that the one who does the collecting should know his subject and be able to recognize real value when he sees it. By value we do not mean money value, but rather the place any item will fill in a series, or the story behind it. A collector's shelf is more than an arrangement of different objects. Each piece has a story connected with it. The collector may associate the object with the person who sent it. He may treasure it because of the peculiar way in which it was made. Sometimes he preserves it because it came from a certain place. These are the reasons why an artist in the collecting field can furnish you with a most entertaining time by discussing his prizes.

If you do not have a hobby now, collecting might be just the thing you are looking for. It is something that need not cost anything, and you can choose from a wide range of possibilities. Here are a few suggestions that might be helpful.

Collecting As You Go

One day a woman out West decided to build a rock garden. There were plenty of rocks about; how better could they be used? She began to gather the rocks into one pile ready for the final task of stacking them into shape with the proper amount of soil. A neighbor, who had seen her doing this, went picnicking in the mountains one day and came over later with a rock to contribute to the cause.

"I thought you might be interested in having a rock from Aspen Grove for your garden," she said.

From that time on, this particular rock garden began to take on an entirely different meaning. Wherever the woman went, she tried to find an unusual rock or one representing a famous spot. Her children became interested and, if they happened to be traveling, brought her rocks from other states. Other friends, learning of the collection, also became interested and rocks from all corners of the earth were added. The rock garden, now completed and growing with moss, shrubs, and flowers, has a story behind it. The owner can tell you what makes each rock a much-prized item in the collection.